IFS Therapy Los Angeles
IFS-informed therapy in Los Angeles with Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC. Helping you reconnect with your authentic Self.
Specialized Treatment for:
Anxiety | Attachment | Trauma
As Featured In:
IFS therapy can help when different parts of you are constantly pulling in opposite directions.
It’s like different parts of you are constantly at odds with each other.
Like one part of you craves connection, but another part is scared sh*tless of being vulnerable?
You’ll bend over backward to avoid conflict, even it means dismissing your own feelings.
You push yourself way past burnout because that inner voice keeps telling you that you should be doing more.
IFS therapy helps you understand why these parts exist, get them on the same page, and finally find some peace……
Without Losing Who You Are in the Process.
What is IFS Therapy Used to Treat?
Does this sound like you?
- You fear that if people saw the real you, they wouldn’t love or accept you.
- A part of you always feels guilty if you’re not constantly productive
- You can’t enjoy a win because you’re already worrying about the next challenge.
- You apologize for things that aren’t your fault because you feel responsible for everything.
- A part of you believes that if you’re not perfect, you’re not lovable.
- You beat yourself up for the tiniest flaws, even if no one else notices.
- You often feel disconnected from your own needs because you’re so focused on meeting everyone else’s.
- You’re stuck in a loop of overthinking and second-guessing every decision.
- You can’t stand the idea of disappointing anyone, so you take on way too much.
What is IFS?
IFS stands for Internal Family Systems, and no, it’s not about your actual family. It’s about the fact that you have a whole inner family of parts inside you. Like different versions of you that all want different things…and usually start fighting at the worst possible time (hi, 3AM spiral).
There’s the part of you that people-pleases.
The part that self-sabotages.
The perfectionist.
The avoider.
The inner child who still thinks they have to earn love to be safe.
IFS is basically walking towards those parts and asking, “What do you need right now?” instead of just yelling at them to shut up.
IFS helps you build a relationship with your parts so you stop abandoning yourself, stop getting hijacked by old protective patterns, and start leading your life from that grounded place.
How I Use IFS Therapy in My Practice
Instead of just venting about your week or trying to “think positive,” IFS helps you to slow down and get curious about what’s happening inside when you feel anxious, angry, numb, avoidant—whatever.
What It’s Like to Talk to a “Part”
Let’s say you’re spiraling because someone hasn’t texted you back.
Instead of saying, “Ugh I’m just being dramatic,” an IFS therapist might say: “Can we check in with the part of you that’s panicking right now?”
So you close your eyes, tune in, and notice that there’s a freaked-out part that feels like it’s 12 years old and thinks you’re about to be abandoned. IFS helps you connect to that part—not to shame it, but to listen to it. And eventually, that scared part will tell you where it came from, what it’s been trying to protect you from, and what it actually needs from you now.
You’re not trying to get rid of your anxiety or inner critic.
You’re building a relationship with them so they stop running on autopilot.
"Parts Work" Therapy Is Backed by Brain Science
Your brain is made up of different neural networks, which basically means different parts of you light up in different situations. When you feel calm and grounded, one part of your brain (the prefrontal cortex) is in charge. That’s the adult you—rational, chill, able to make good decisions.
But when something reminds you (even subconsciously) of an old emotional wound—like rejection, criticism, or abandonment—your brain switches control. A different “part” steps in. Maybe it’s the inner critic. Maybe it’s the anxious fixer. Maybe it’s the one who wants to ghost everybody and run.
IFS helps you map out those parts, so you’re not just reacting on autopilot anymore. You start recognizing, “Oh, this isn’t me, this is a scared part of me trying to protect me.”
And when your nervous system realizes you’re finally listening instead of pushing that part away or shaming it? It gets heard. Seen. And validated. It starts to finally chill out.
Contact me today to schedule a consultation and begin the path to a more connected life.
IFS-Informed Therapist in Los Angeles
Meet Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC
Hi, I’m Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC!
If you feel like you’re constantly struggling with your inner dialogue, where one part of you is telling you to work harder because you’re not “good enough,” yet another part just wants to crawl under a rock—you’re in the right place.
My focus is on helping you untangle those inner conflicts so you can finally feel some damn peace.
IFS therapy helps you acknowledge and understand why these parts of you exist – and getting them to work together.
A Holistic Approach to Meeting Your “Parts”
We’ll explore the reasons you feel torn between perfectionism and self-doubt, why that inner critic is so loud, and how you can start living in a way that feels more aligned with who you really are.
We’ll work on actionable steps, whether that’s setting boundaries with yourself, learning to embrace those scared or angry parts of yourself, or finally turning down that need to be “perfect.”
My goal is to help you stop the internal struggles and start living a life that feels whole. I utilize a holistic approach because your mind and body are in this together.
How IFS Therapy Treats Trauma Without Forcing You to Relive It
Trauma isn’t just what happened to you—it’s how your body and nervous system adapted to survive it. IFS treats trauma by going straight to the source: the parts of you that had to protect you back then, and are still working overtime now, even when you don’t need them to anymore.
IFS Therapy Heals Trauma by Working With the Parts That Lived It
Instead of reliving trauma or pushing through it, IFS helps you meet the parts of you that hold it. Like the one that freezes in conflict. The one that shuts down during sex. The one that says, “I’m fine,” when you’re clearly not fine. Those parts aren’t trying to hurt you—they’re trying to protect you from something deep, something scared, something younger.
IFS gives you a way to actually talk to those parts and hear their story—without judgment, without forcing anything. It helps you rebuild trust with your own nervous system so those parts can finally relax and let you lead.
Why Clients Say IFS Therapy Feels Different
Most of my clients don’t come in asking for IFS. They come in saying things like:
- “I know I’m self-aware, but I still can’t stop overthinking.”
- “I keep ending up in the same relationship pattern and I hate it.”
- “I don’t even know what I feel—I just know I’m exhausted.”
- “I don’t feel connected to myself. I feel like I’m performing.”
- “Everything looks fine on the outside, but internally I feel like I’m drowning.”
Not Just Talk Therapy: How IFS Helps You Heal From the Inside Out
My clients often say they feel something they’ve never felt before in therapy: Relief.
Like their internal world finally makes sense. Like they’re not fighting with themselves anymore.
IFS gives them language and structure for the things they’ve always felt but couldn’t name. And instead of being told to change their behavior or “challenge a thought,” they get to slow down, listen, and befriend the parts of themselves they’ve been at war with for years.
They start to feel more grounded, more connected, and more like themselves. They start showing up in relationships differently. Setting boundaries without guilt. Not abandoning themselves to keep the peace. Actually resting instead of constantly bracing for something bad to happn.
Who is IFS Therapy Best For?
IFS Therapy Is for You If You're Exhausted From Holding It All Together
I work with high-functioning adults who are intelligent and self-aware – but still stuck in patterns that don’t feel good.
People who are successful on paper—but anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally burnt out behind the scenes.
People who take care of everyone else, but have no idea how to show up for themselves.
People who say “I’m fine” when they’re anything but.
Most of my clients are:
- People-pleasers who can’t stop scanning the room for what everyone else needs.
- Adults with emotionally immature, narcissistic, or unavailable parents (even the ones that truly meant well)
- Perfectionists who grew up being the “good kid” or the one no one had to worry about.
- Those who feel disconnected from their body, unsure of what they need, and scared to slow down.
- Folks who are great at holding space for others—but feel like a mess inside their own head.
What Clients Say About IFS Therapy in Los Angeles
Meet Your IFS Therapist in Los Angeles
I’m Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC. I specialize in helping high-functioning adults heal from complex trauma, anxious attachment, and burnout using a mix of IFS therapy, somatic therapy, and a deeply holistic approach.
That’s Where IFS Therapy Comes In.
We don’t just talk about your week.
We work directly with the younger, protective, perfectionistic, avoidant, people-pleasing parts that formed when your nervous system was still learning what safety even was.
If you’re living with symptoms of Complex PTSD, chronic anxiety, or trauma that hasn’t been fully processed, IFS gives us a way in—without retraumatizing or forcing anything.
If you’re ready for therapy that actually feels different, let’s talk. Reach out here or learn more about how I work.
Start IFS Therapy in Los Angeles Today
Ready to Work With Your Parts Instead of Against Them?
What Kind of "Parts" Are There in IFS?
These are the parts that try to prevent pain before it happens.
Think: the perfectionist, the people-pleaser, the overthinker, the one who keeps everything “together.”
They work hard to keep you in control and avoid anything that might stir up old hurt.
These are the parts that hold the pain. The shame, grief, fear, loneliness—usually from way back when.
They were pushed out of your day-to-day awareness because the system decided they were “too much” at the time.
But they’re still in there, waiting to be seen and healed.
Reach Out—Even If a Part of You Isn’t Sure Yet
Click here to schedule your free 15-minute consultation for internal family systems therapy in Los Angeles. I offer free phone consultations to help you determine if it’s a good fit. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, healing from trauma, and improving the quality of your relationships with others (and yourself) by utilizing attachment theory.
FAQ: IFS Therapy in Los Angeles
What exactly is IFS therapy?
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is a trauma-informed, neuroscience-based therapy that helps you understand the different emotional parts of you—like the inner critic, the overthinker, the avoider. In my Los Angeles practice, I use IFS therapy to help you stop fighting with those parts and start feeling calmer, more connected, and more like yourself.
Can IFS therapy help with anxiety?
Absolutely. IFS therapy helps you work with the part of you that’s carrying anxiety—not just cope with it, but understand what it’s trying to protect. Clients in my Los Angeles IFS therapy practice often feel more grounded once that part doesn’t have to stay on high alert.
Do I have to talk about trauma the whole time?
Nope. We go at your pace. IFS helps you access the parts of you that are still carrying past pain—without needing to relive everything. It’s a safe, body-aware way to work through trauma without overwhelm.
Is IFS therapy backed by science?
Yes. IFS is science-backed and used by trauma experts to treat anxiety, PTSD, depression, and complex trauma. It’s grounded in neuroscience and emotional regulation, which is why I use it every day in my Los Angeles IFS therapy work.
What’s it like to work with you?
I’m direct, neuroscience-informed, and not into performative therapy. I work with high-functioning adults who are tired of pretending everything’s fine. Together, we slow down and listen to what your nervous system actually needs—without shame, pressure, or worksheets.
Do you offer IFS therapy online or only in Los Angeles?
All therapy is online. Whether you’re in LA or anywhere in California, we can go deep and do this work from wherever you feel safe.
How do I get started with IFS therapy?
Start with a free 15-minute consult. I’ll answer your questions, and you can see if working together feels like a good fit. IFS therapy isn’t about fixing you—it’s about helping your system feel safe enough to finally exhale. Click here to schedule.
What is the IFS therapy controversy?
Some therapists think IFS sounds too abstract—because it focuses on inner parts, emotional dialogue, and imagination. But research says otherwise. IFS is science-backed and effective for anxiety and trauma, especially when your nervous system is still stuck in survival mode. I use it every day in my Los Angeles IFS therapy practice because it works—plain and simple.
What is the Internal Family Systems model?
The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is a framework for understanding your mind as made up of distinct parts. These parts—like the inner critic, the protector, or the overachiever—each carry different roles, beliefs, and emotions. IFS helps you get to know them, build trust internally, and lead your life with more calm and clarity.
What is the Internal Family Systems theory?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory, developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, says we all have an inner system made up of different “parts” and a core Self. When we’ve experienced trauma or stress, protective parts take over. IFS therapy helps you reconnect with your Self and support those parts—so you stop living in reactivity and start living with choice.
